The present participle refers to ongoing action, but it isn't necessary to use it for *every* ongoing action. If you break it down, the participle (going) tends to be used for right now, temporary ongoing actions, while the plain verb (go) is more for permanent, regular, habitual actions. I'm going to Bob's house. I go to Bob's every Saturday.

I came across a press release recently promoting a "sneak peak" airing of a TV show. This was a professional publicist who should know better. I'm pretty sure there were no mountaintops in this show.

A bed does not sleep. Someone may sleep on a bed, but it is impossible for an inanimate object to sleep. Therefore, catalogue, do not say that a bed "sleeps" two. Never mind the fact that you never say the two of what a bed sleeps - days? years? centuries?

Logged

"It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends" - Harry Potter

The present participle refers to ongoing action, but it isn't necessary to use it for *every* ongoing action. If you break it down, the participle (going) tends to be used for right now, temporary ongoing actions, while the plain verb (go) is more for permanent, regular, habitual actions. I'm going to Bob's house. I go to Bob's every Saturday.

I came across a press release recently promoting a "sneak peak" airing of a TV show. This was a professional publicist who should know better. I'm pretty sure there were no mountaintops in this show.

Well, day-um! I was looking forward to a mountaintop that tiptoed on and off. Am I showing my age when I say that it sounds like something that would happen on the Muppet Show?

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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Common sense is not a gift, but a curse. Because thenyou have to deal with all the people who don't have it. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This one is coming up a lot lately because it's an election year in the U.S.: It's So-cial Se-cur-i-ty, people. Six syllables! But over and over again I hear politicians and commentators saying "Sosh-curty," or similar mushmouthed abominations. This isn't a regional pronunciation thing -- *everybody* does it. How hard is it to sound out a two-syllable word and a four-syllable word? And don't get me started on people who ask for your Social Security number with "What's your social?" or worse, "What's your sosh?"

The above reminds me as well of the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," which is so often called the "Macy Day Parade." I even once heard a TV announcer call it that. Whaa?

This one is coming up a lot lately because it's an election year in the U.S.: It's So-cial Se-cur-i-ty, people. Six syllables! But over and over again I hear politicians and commentators saying "Sosh-curty," or similar mushmouthed abominations. This isn't a regional pronunciation thing -- *everybody* does it. How hard is it to sound out a two-syllable word and a four-syllable word? And don't get me started on people who ask for your Social Security number with "What's your social?" or worse, "What's your sosh?"

The above reminds me as well of the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," which is so often called the "Macy Day Parade." I even once heard a TV announcer call it that. Whaa?

*facepalm*

Logged

"It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends" - Harry Potter

A bed does not sleep. Someone may sleep on a bed, but it is impossible for an inanimate object to sleep. Therefore, catalogue, do not say that a bed "sleeps" two. Never mind the fact that you never say the two of what a bed sleeps - days? years? centuries?

There's a brand of canned soup here (U.S.) that is advertised as being hearty and filling. The slogan is: "The soup that eats like a meal!" I can never hear/see the commercial without saying, "The soup that eats like a horse!" or "The soup that eats like a pig!"

Besides, why would you want to bring home soup that would eat *your* food?

A bed does not sleep. Someone may sleep on a bed, but it is impossible for an inanimate object to sleep. Therefore, catalogue, do not say that a bed "sleeps" two. Never mind the fact that you never say the two of what a bed sleeps - days? years? centuries?

There's a brand of canned soup here (U.S.) that is advertised as being hearty and filling. The slogan is: "The soup that eats like a meal!" I can never hear/see the commercial without saying, "The soup that eats like a horse!" or "The soup that eats like a pig!"

Besides, why would you want to bring home soup that would eat *your* food?

Yes! I hate that commercial!

Logged

"It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends" - Harry Potter

Several years ago, there was a big fight somewhere locally. The newspaper reported that "someone was shot in the fracas." My dad said, "Well, that must've hurt. The fracas is a very sensitive part of the body."

Logged

"It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends" - Harry Potter